Past Simple in English

The past simple tense, also known as the simple past, is one of the most essential verb tenses in English. If you're a beginner, practicing regularly will help you master it.

To get you started, in this article we’ll cover what past simple is, how to form sentences in past simple and when to use it. With easy examples and simple rules, you’ll learn how to use this tense correctly in no time! Let’s get started!

What is the Past Simple Tense or Simple Past?

The past simple tense (or simple past), is used to talk about actions that happened and were completed in the past. It is often used with adverbs and adverbial phrases like yesterday, last week, three years ago, or in 2024.

We commonly use the past simple to describe:

• Completed actions in the past (She visited Paris last summer.)
• A series of past events (He woke up, got dressed, and left the house.)
• Past habits or routines (When I was a child, I played outside every day.)

How to Form the Past Simple

To form the past simple using a regular verb, we add -ed to the base verb.

• Walk → walked
• Play → played
• Work → worked

And to form it using an irregular verb, we will need to memorize it:

• Go → went
• See → saw
• Eat → ate

It’s also important to note that some verbs can be both regular and irregular depending on the context. For example, the verb "read" has the same spelling in both present and past forms, but the pronunciation changes:

• I read books every day. (present, pronounced "reed")
• Yesterday, I read a book. (past, pronounced "red")

Since irregular verbs do not follow a standard rule, practice and memorization are key to using them correctly in past simple sentences.

Past Simple Formula

The formula for simple past is the following:

Subject + verb (-ed for regular verbs) / irregular form

And here are some examples of sentences in past simple:

• She walked to school.
• They went to the beach.
• She ate a salad.
• He was at the park.
• The kid broke the lamp.

And here are a few examples of past simple in more complex sentences (with one independent clause + one dependent clause):

• She smiled when she saw her friend.
• They left early since they had an appointment.
• The dog barked whenever someone knocked on the door.
• We studied hard so that we could pass the exam.
• I didn’t answer because I didn’t hear the phone.

Past Simple vs. Past Participle

The past simple and past participle are often confused because both refer to completed actions in the past. However, they are used in different ways.

• The past simple is used on its own to describe a finished action at a specific time. For example: I finished my homework yesterday.
• The past participle is usually used with helping verbs like have or had to form perfect tenses. For example: I have finished my homework.

Another key difference is that the past simple is often used with adverbs or adverbial phrases that indicate time (like yesterday, last Friday, in 2015), while the past participle is not.

To master these forms, it’s important to learn irregular past participles and see how they differ in each tense (go → went → gone). Keep practicing, and soon the difference will become clear!

Common Mistakes to Avoid with the Past Simple

The past simple tense is easy to learn, but there are some common mistakes that many English students make when using it. We prepared a guide to let you know what to watch out for and how to fix them:

1. Using the Wrong Verb Form

Remember that for regular verbs we add -ed (e.g., worked, played), but irregular verbs change completely (e.g., go → went, eat → ate).

• Incorrect: She goed to school yesterday.
• Correct: She went to school yesterday.

2. Forgetting to Add “Did” in Questions and Negatives

In questions and negatives, we use did (for all subjects) and the base form of the verb (not the past tense).

• Incorrect: Did you went to school yesterday?
• Correct: Did you go to school yesterday?

3. Using Present Tense Time Words

The past simple is used with words like yesterday, last night, two days ago, in 1995. Don’t use it with words like now, today or this week (these are for the Present Simple or Present Continuous).

• Incorrect: I studied English now.
• Correct: I studied English yesterday.

4. Mixing Up Past Simple and Present Perfect

Use past simple when the action happened in a specific time in the past (e.g., last year, in 2020). And use present perfect when no time is mentioned or when the consequences of the event are still relevant in the present (I have read that book twice).

• Incorrect: I have visited London last year.
• Correct: I visited London last year.

By avoiding these mistakes, you’ll use the past simple more accurately and sound more natural in English conversations. 

Tips for Mastering the Past Simple Tense

Here are some useful tips to help you form sentences in past simple in a confident way:

1. Learn common irregular verbs: The best way to start memorizing the irregular verbs is to practice the most common ones and using them in sentences before moving on to longer lists.
2. Read and listen to stories in the past: Reading short stories, news articles, or biographies in English will help you see how the past simple is used. Listening to audiobooks, podcasts, or interviews about past events is also helpful.
3. Write a daily or weekly journal in the past tense: A fun way to practice simple past is keeping a diary to describe your experiences. Write down what you did during the day, even if it’s simple sentences like “I ate a sandwich” or “I went out with my friends”. As you become more comfortable with the tense, you will be able to write more complex sentences.
4. Ask and answer past tense questions: Practice asking and answering questions using the past simple. You can do this with a study partner, by writing in a chatroom, or even by talking to yourself!
5. Practice every day: The best way to master the past simple is through consistent practice. Speak, read, write, and listen to English as much as you can every day to strengthen your skills. The more you use it, the easier it will become!

Summary

The past simple tense is essential for talking about past events, experiences, and completed actions. By learning its rules, practicing regular and irregular verbs, and using it in real-life conversations, you can steadily improve your English fluency and confidence.

To master the past simple, it’s important to practice daily—read, write, speak, and listen to sentences using this tense. Reinforcing your knowledge through consistent use will help you speak more naturally and accurately.

Don’t forget to enhance your English skills with the daily lessons on the Promova app, and soon, you’ll avoid common mistakes like a pro. Keep practicing and enjoy learning English!